Tie-plate



UNITED STATES FRED QUIST, 0F FIREBAUGH, CALIFORNIA.

TIE-PLATE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 10, 1921.

Application filed October 7, 1920. Serial 1%. 415,227.

T 0 all whom it may concern,

Be it known that I, FRED QUIs'r, a citizen of the United States, residing at Firebaugh, in the county of Fresno and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tie-Plates; and I do declare the following to be a full,

clear, and exact description of the inven-' tion, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates broadly to improvements in tie plates and it has particular reference to a device of this class which has novel means associated with it for preventing accidental creeping of the rails.

()ne object of the invention is to generally improve upon devices of this class by producing one of extreme simplicity and durability which is entirely eifective in operation, one which, due to its peculiar construction, will obtain a better frictional grip on the rail base flange in case the rail creeps and after obtaining the most effective frictional grip will absolutely prevent further creeping of the'rails.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the abovementioned class which includes a novel clamping device for engaging the rail base flange and also engaging the tie plate, a wedge member being associated with. the clamping device and serving to frictionally grip the opposite edge of the rail and retain the latter against possible slipping or creeping.

A further object of the invention is to provide a tie plate equipped with a plurality of alined apertures and a locking wedge also provided with a row of alined apertures and adapted to register with the apertures in the tie plate, a locking pin being adapted to pass through the apertures in the wedge and the. apertures in the tie plate to lock the wedge against accidental movement after it is once in place.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of the specification, and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my im- 1 tion.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view with parts in elevation, taken substantially on the plane of the line 3-3 of F in. 1.

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 4-4: of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken on the line 55 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is an edge elevation of the device. For the purpose of a proper understanding of the device, I have illustrated in the drawings, a conventional rail R and a cross tie T on which the rail is placed and held.

Referring to my improved tie plate and anti-creeping device which is associated therewith, it will be seen that thesame com-' prises a base plate 1 provided with a plurality of apertures 2 for passage of suitable retaining spikes 3 whereby the plate may be positioned on tie and properly held in place. This base plate is provided on its upper face near one of its longitudinal edges with a raised portion or rib 4; with a flat longitudinal inner edge against which one edge of the base flange of the rail is adapted to bear and be held partially in place. it is by preference employed. This construction so far as it has gone, defines what is ordinarily known as a tie plate, and, as before stated, it is my intention to associate with this tie plate novel means for preventing longitudinal movement or creeping of the rails as ordinarily occurs.

This anti-creeping means comprises. an open loop 5 or clamping member which is nothing more than a bar having its ends bent to form hooks, one of which is adapted to take over one edge of the rail base flange, while the other hook is adapted to take over one edge of the base plate, this hook being spaced from the opposite edge of the rail base flange and serving to permit a wedge member 6 to be driven between it and the base flange.

By preference, this wedge member is slidably mounted on a portion of the base plate and this portion is in the form of an extension 7 which eX- tends in parallelism with the rail. It is This rib is not essential although.

desirable after the wedge 6 is once driven tightly against the edge of the rail base flange and obtains a proper frictional grip to retain the rail against creeping, to retain it in this position at all times. To this end, I provide the extension 7 with a plurality of closely spaced alined apertures 8 and I also provide the wedge member 6 with a plurality of closely spaced apertures 8 which are adapted to aline with the apertures in the extension 7, there being a suitable locking pin 9 employed for passage through one of the apertures in the wedge 6 and the corresponding alined aperture in the extension 7. This locking pin 9 may be of any suitable construction and it is here shown in the form of a piece of relatively strong wire or the like, which is passed through. the alined. apertures and has its ends bent laterally against the adjacent parts so as to prevent it from becoming accidentally displaced.

Since the rail has a tendency to move or creep in the direction indicated by the arrow, it is desirable to prevent the clamping member from becoming accidentally displaced. To this end, it will be noted that I so construct the extension that a beveled shoulder 10 is provided at its point of connection with the body of the plate. With this construction, it will be seen that, should the member 5 accidentally move toward the body of the plate, it would engage the shoulder 10 and be prevented from further movement.

In use, the base plate 1 is secured upon the tie in the manner disclosed in Fig. 1, that is, it is placed upon the tie in the ordinary way and the fastening spikes are passed through the apertures 2 and one edge of the base flange of the rail is caused to abut the inner flat edge of the rib 1. This ordinarily retains the rail in position, but of course, does not prevent longitudinal movement or creeping of the rail. This is where my improved anti-creeping means comes in. In making use of this means, one of the hooked ends of the member 5 is caused to take over one edge of the base flange of the rail and the other hooked end is caused to take over the outer edge of the extension 7, thus forming a space between this hooked end and the adjacent edge of the rail base flange. Then the wedge member 6 is driven in this space and causes the rail to be locked against accidental longitidunal movement. After the wedge is in the proper position, the locking pin 9 is passed through the alined apertures 8 and 8 and its ends are bent in the manner clearly disclosed in Fig. 6. In this way, the wedge is locked against accidental displacement.

f desirable, a plurality of tapered grooves 11 may be formed in the upper face of the plate to form novel drain means for the water to pass off of the plate.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that I have devised an extremely effective means for preventing creeping of the rails which oftentimes causes a serious accident. The device is simple, easy to install and is comparatively inexpensive to both the manufacturer and the user.

It is thought that the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, will enable persons skilled in the art to which this invention relates to obtain a clear understanding of the same. Therefore, further description is deemed unnecessary.

Advantageous and effective results may be obtained with the construction and arrangement described and shown, and for this reason this construction and arrangement is taken as the preferred embodiment of my invention. However, I wish it to be understood that various changes in shape, size, and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

I claim:

1. An anti-creeping device for rails comprising an apertured base plate provided with a rib on its upper face against which one edge of the rail base flange is adapted to bear, and further provided with an extension having a plurality of alined holes, a wedge member equipped with a plurality of alined holes to register with said first holes, a locking pin to extend through one of the holes in the wedge member and one of the holes in the extension, and separate and independent means for clamping the wedge member against the opposite edge of the rail base flange.

2. An anti-creeping device for rails comprising a base plate having apertures for passage of the retaining spikes therethrough, being also provided with a rib on its upper face against which one edge of the rail base flange is adapted to bear, said plate being further provided with an extension in parallelism with the rail, the extension having a series of alined holes therein and there being a shoulder at'its point of connection with the body of the plate, a wedge member to bear on said extension, provided with a series of'alined holes to register with the first named holes, a retaining pin for passage through the holes, and a clamping member consisting of a bar having jaws at its opposite ends, one of which is adapted to grip one edge of the rail base flange while the other jaw is intended to engage the extension and wedge to cause the latter to bear against the opposite edge of the rail base flange.

3. An anti-creeping device for rails comprising a base plate to be anchored to a cross tie, means for securing the rail to said plate, an open loop to be passed beneath the rail 130 and engage at one of its ends one edge of the apertures adapted to register with one base flange thereof, its opposite endto engage another, and a retaining pin for passage the opposite adjacent edge of said plate, a through said apertures. 10 Wedge to be driven through the last named In testimony whereof I have hereunto end of the loop member and against the set my hand.

adjacent edge of the rail base, said plate and Wedge being provided with rows of alined FRED QUIST. 

